Hindi English Translation || Editorial || A testing vote: On India’s UNSC stand on Ukraine

A testing vote: On India’s UNSC stand on Ukraine

India had good reasons to abstain, but might have to revisit (पुनर्विचार करना, फिर से आना) its stance if the conflict worsens (बिगड़ जाना, खराब)

Thwarted (विफल करना , बाधा डालना, नकाम बनाना) at the UN Security Council (संयुक्त राष्ट्र सुरक्षा परिषद) in their resolution (प्रस्ताव, संकल्प) to condemn (निंदा करना, फटकारना, धिक्कारना) Russian aggression (आक्रमण, शत्रुता, जुझारूपन) on Ukraine, the U.S. and European allies now plan to ensure a censure (condemnation, criticism, reprimand, rebuke, disapproval) of Moscow’s actions at the UN General Assembly (संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा), where they already have the support of more than 80 countries. The Russian veto (a right/power to reject a decision/proposal; The UNSC “veto power” is the power of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) to veto any “substantive” resolution) of resolution 8979 was a predetermined (पूर्वनिर्धारित, पूर्वनियत, पूर्व-नियोजित) outcome (परिणाम, नतीजा): as a permanent UNSC member, Russia has vetoed UNSC resolutions earlier that were critical (आलोचनावादी, समालोचनासंबंधी) of its decision to send troops (soldiers, armed forces) into Georgia (2008), and Crimea (2014), and could hardly (मुश्किल से, लगभग नहीं) have done otherwise. What was perhaps (शायद, संभवतः) more disappointing for the western coalition (alliance, union, partnership) was that it was unable to move India from its consistent position of abstention (refusal to vote, abstaining, non-voting). China shifted from its support for Russia in the previous vote to abstention after the U.S. and Albania, the two “penholders (It means that the member ‘holding the pen’ assumes responsibility for a given issue and initiates all actions by the Council related to that issue, including drafting documents, chairing negotiations, holding emergency meetings, scheduling open debates and organising visiting missions)” of the resolution, agreed to drop (omit, leave, exclude, discard, leave out) the reference to Chapter VII (the authorisation (approval, sanction, permission) of the use of force against Russian troops). The coalition against Russia is making a political statement at the UN, but not setting much store on (value, attach great importance to, put a high value on) the global body’s effectiveness (success, successfulness, efficacy, productiveness, fruitfulness, potency). Instead, the U.S. and the EU have adopted unilateral (relating to a method of taking decisions (particularly on international relations) by a state (country) individually without considering other states (countries). In general, it is relating to the decision taken individually without consulting with the others concerned) sanctions (action taken, or an order given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc) which they hope will cripple (damage, impair, erode, weaken, undermine) Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to sustain (continue, carry on, keep up, maintain) a longer assault (attack, offensive, onslaught) on Ukraine, and also excised (remove, delete, strike out, cancel, take out, remove, cut out (a part of something-text, audio or video)) the Russian economy from the international SWIFT transaction system. In addition (as well as, additionally, moreover), the U.S., Germany and other countries have announced weapon supplies for Ukrainian forces. However, in the absence of direct air power assistance and foreign troops, it is unlikely (doubtful, implausible, improbable, questionable) that Ukraine will be able to change the balance of power (stability in a system composed of a number of autonomous forces. Whenever the equilibrium is disturbed either by an outside force or by a change in one or the other elements composing the system, the system shows a tendency to re-establish either the original or a new equilibrium) in the equation (the situation) with Russia easily.

India’s abstention from the UNSC resolution too was perhaps a foregone conclusion (predictable result, predictable outcome, inevitability). Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to take a call from Mr. Putin before the vote indicated that India would not take any stand (attitude, stance, viewpoint, standpoint, position, approach) against Russia. Apart from the India-Russia defence and strategic (relating to achieving long-term or overall goals) partnership, Russia is India’s most trusted P-5 ally (मित्र, साथी) when it comes to blocking intrusive (intruding, interfering, interrupting; annoying, irritating) resolutions on Kashmir. In contrast, Mr. Modi only accepted the call from the Ukrainian President after the vote, and rather than (instead of) offering support, requested assistance for the safe exit of Indian students. While India’s hesitation (unwillingness, disinclination, reluctance) to take a stand (attitude, stance, viewpoint, standpoint, position, approach) against Russia is understood, New Delhi must now consider whether its aspirations to be a “leading power” can be achieved without having a clear position on a conflict (war, armed conflict, battle, fighting) that threatens global security, even as the Modi government focuses solely (only, merely) on the well-being (security, safety, protection) of Indians amidst (amid, in the middle of; during) the peril faced by others. This will be especially true if the Russian military operation in Ukraine is prolonged (lengthen, make longer, extend, protract), and the Government’s ambivalence is read (interpret, take to mean, construe, explain, understand) as active support for aggressive (hostile, belligerent, bellicose, hawkish, combative) transgressions (infringement, contravention, breach, violation, overstepping) by a more powerful neighbour over a weaker one, something India has protested in its own neighbourhood ((surrounding) area, region, district/country).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.testing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - परीक्षण, जाँच, कष्टकर
English Meaning - challenging.

2.United Nations Security Council (UNSC) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संयुक्त राष्ट्र सुरक्षा परिषद
English Meaning - it is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with ensuring international peace and security.

3.revisit (verb)

Hindi Meaning - पुनर्विचार करना, फिर से आना
English Meaning - reconsider, rethink, relook, reassess.

4.worsen (verb)

Hindi Meaning - बिगड़ जाना, खराब
English Meaning - aggravate, intensify, increase, make worse, compound.

5.thwart (verb)

Hindi Meaning - विफल करना , बाधा डालना, नकाम बनाना
English Meaning - obstruct, hamper, hinder, impede.

6.resolution (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रस्ताव, संकल्प
English Meaning - a formal decision taken at a meeting with the help of a vote; motion, proposal.

7.condemn (verb)

Hindi Meaning - निंदा करना, फटकारना, धिक्कारना
English Meaning - censure, criticize, castigate, denounce, reprimand, rebuke, reprove.

8.aggression (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आक्रमण, शत्रुता, जुझारूपन
English Meaning - hostility, belligerence, combativeness, warmongering, hawkishness.

9.ally (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मित्र, साथी
English Meaning - a country/state with an alliance with another one in which they promise to support each other militarily and to defend each other.

10.UN General Assembly (UNGA) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा
English Meaning - (The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.

11.predetermined (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पूर्वनिर्धारित, पूर्वनियत, पूर्व-नियोजित
English Meaning - predestined, preordained, foreordained, fated; pre-established, pre-planned, pre-decided, prearranged.

12.outcome (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिणाम, नतीजा
English Meaning - result, end result, consequence, effect, aftermath.

13.critical (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - आलोचनावादी, समालोचनासंबंधी
English Meaning - censorious, condemnatory, condemning, castigatory, reproving, disparaging, disapproving, scathing, criticizing.

14.hardly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - मुश्किल से, लगभग नहीं
English Meaning - barely, almost not.

15.perhaps (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - शायद, संभवतः
English Meaning - maybe, possibly.

16.stand (noun)

English Meaning - attitude, stance, viewpoint, standpoint, position, approach.

17.abstain (verb)

English Meaning - not vote, decline to vote, refuse to vote (for or against something (a resolution/proposal/motion).

18.conflict (noun)

English Meaning - war, armed conflict, battle, fighting.

19.censure (noun)

English Meaning - condemnation, criticism, reprimand, rebuke, disapproval.

20.veto (noun)

English Meaning - a right/power to reject a decision/proposal; The UNSC “veto power” is the power of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) to veto any “substantive” resolution.

21.UN resolution (noun)

English Meaning - United Nations resolution is formal expression of the opinion or will of United Nations organs. It is a decision or declaration voted on by all member states of the United Nations and it usually requires a simple majority (50 percent of all votes plus one) to pass. Although any UN body can issue resolutions, in practice most resolutions are issued by the Security Council or the General Assembly.

22.UN resolution 8979 (noun)

English Meaning - The 8979th meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was held on February 25 to pass a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN charter. The draft resolution was called to vote to end Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine. It also aimed to deplore Russia’s decision to grant independence to Ukraine’s breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk and reverse the decision, calling it violative of territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine.

23.veto (verb)

English Meaning - reject a decision/proposal/resolution.

24.troop (noun)

English Meaning - soldiers, armed forces.

25.Crimea (noun)

English Meaning - a peninsula along the northern coast of the Black Sea in Eastern Europe. The peninsula is almost entirely surrounded by both the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The status of Crimea is disputed. It is claimed by Ukraine and in 2014 was recognized as Ukrainian by the United Nations and most other countries, but it is governed by Russia. Russia formally annexed Crimea on 18 March 2014.

26.coalition (noun)

English Meaning - alliance, union, partnership.

27.abstention (noun)

English Meaning - refusal to vote, abstaining, non-voting.

28.penholder (noun)

English Meaning - It means that the member ‘holding the pen’ assumes responsibility for a given issue and initiates all actions by the Council related to that issue, including drafting documents, chairing negotiations, holding emergency meetings, scheduling open debates and organising visiting missions.

29.drop (verb)

English Meaning - omit, leave, exclude, discard, leave out.

30.Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter (noun)

English Meaning - it deals with “Action with respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression.

31.authorisation (noun)

English Meaning - approval, sanction, permission.

32.set store on (phrase)

English Meaning - value, attach great importance to, put a high value on.

33.effectiveness (noun)

English Meaning - success, successfulness, efficacy, productiveness, fruitfulness, potency.

34.unilateral (adjective

English Meaning - relating to a method of taking decisions (particularly on international relations) by a state (country) individually without considering other states (countries). In general, it is relating to the decision taken individually without consulting with the others concerned.

35.sanctions (noun)

English Meaning - action taken, or an order given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.

36.cripple (verb)

English Meaning - damage, impair, erode, weaken, undermine.

37.sustain (verb)

English Meaning - continue, carry on, keep up, maintain.

38.assault (noun)

English Meaning - attack, offensive, onslaught.

39.excise (verb)

English Meaning - remove, delete, strike out, cancel, take out, remove, cut out (a part of something-text, audio or video).

40.the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) (noun)

English Meaning - Swift (the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is the main secure messaging system that banks use to make rapid and secure cross-border payments, allowing international trade to flow smoothly. It has become the principal mechanism for financing international trade. In 2020, about 38 million transactions were sent each day over the Swift platform, facilitating trillions of dollars’ worth of deals.

41.in addition (phrase)

English Meaning - as well as, additionally, moreover.

42.in the absence of (phrase)

English Meaning - lacking, wanting, notwithstanding, without.

43.unlikely (adjective)

English Meaning - doubtful, implausible, improbable, questionable.

44.balance of power (phrase)

English Meaning - stability in a system composed of a number of autonomous forces. Whenever the equilibrium is disturbed either by an outside force or by a change in one or the other elements composing the system, the system shows a tendency to re-establish either the original or a new equilibrium.

45.the equation (noun)

English Meaning - the situation.

46.a foregone conclusion (phrase)

English Meaning - predictable result, predictable outcome, inevitability.

47.strategic (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to achieving long-term or overall goals.

48.strategic partnership (noun)

English Meaning - it is a long-term interaction between two countries based on political, economic, social and historical factors (Courtesy: IDSA (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses)).

49.P-5 nations (noun)

English Meaning - the Security Council has five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States - collectively known as the P5.

50.intrusive (adjective)

English Meaning - intruding, interfering, interrupting; annoying, irritating.

51.in contrast (phrase)

English Meaning - when compared to another.

52.rather than (phrase)

English Meaning - instead of.

53.hesitation (noun)

English Meaning - unwillingness, disinclination, reluctance.

54.solely (adverb)

English Meaning - only, merely.

55.well-being (noun)

English Meaning - security, safety, protection.

56.amidst (preposition)

English Meaning - amid, in the middle of; during.

57.peril (noun)

English Meaning - danger, jeopardy, risk, difficulty.

58.prolong (verb)

English Meaning - lengthen, make longer, extend, protract.

59.ambivalence (noun)

English Meaning - a state of having mixed feelings about someone or something; equivocation, uncertainty, unsureness, doubt, indecision, irresolution, irresoluteness, hesitation.

60.read (verb)

English Meaning - interpret, take to mean, construe, explain, understand.

61.aggressive (adjective)

English Meaning - hostile, belligerent, bellicose, hawkish, combative.

62.transgression (noun)

English Meaning - infringement, contravention, breach, violation, overstepping.

63.neighbour (noun)

English Meaning - a country that is next to another country; (bordering) country.

64.neighbourhood (noun)

English Meaning - (surrounding) area, region, district/country.